Paul in the sixth chapter to the Romans saith; 1that We must not abide in sin, because we are dead unto it. Which thing he proveth by baptism, for he saith; 2that All we which have been baptised into Christ Jesus, have been baptised into his death, to the end we should die unto sin, and that our old man should be crucified, and the body of sin abolished. And forsomuch as young children be baptised, even thereby we have a testimony, that sin is in them: for otherwise, the nature of baptism, as it is there described by Paul, should not consist. Also he followeth the same reason in the epistle to the Colossians, where he saith, that; 3We be circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body of the flesh, being buried together with Christ in baptism. He compareth baptism with circumcision, and faith, that those which are baptised, have put off the body of sin. Neither is it to be doubted of, but that those which be baptised, are baptised into the remission of sins. And assuredly, 4the circumcision, which in the old law was given unto children, was correspondent unto our baptism. And as touching circumcision, it is written; The soul, whose flesh of the foreskin shall not be circumcised the eight day, shall die the death. Wherefore, seeing children have need of the sacrament of regeneration, it followeth necessarily, 5that they be borne under the power of sin. Paul unto the Ephesians the 2. chapter saith; that We are by nature the children of wrath. But our nature could not be hateful unto God, unless it were defiled with ⟨p. 215⟩sin. And in the same place, Paul with most weighty words describeth the fierceness of this wrath; 6how that We walk according to the prince of this world, which is of strength in our harts, by reason of our disobedience, and therefore we do the will of the flesh, and of our mind. Augustine also citeth a place out of the first epistle to the Corinthians, 7that Christ died for all men: wherefore it followeth, that all men were dead, and had need of his death. But it is a wicked thing, to exclude children out of the number of them, for whom Christ died. But if you shall demand what kind of persons they were, for whom Christ suffered; this did the apostle sufficiently declare, in the epistle to the Romans, 8when he said, that they were weak, Gods enemies, ungodly, and sinners.
Paule in the sixt chapter to the Romans saith; 1that We must not abide in sinne, bicause we are dead vnto it. Which thing he prooueth by baptisme, for he saith; 2that All we which haue beene baptised into Christ Iesus, haue beene baptised into his death, to the end we should die vnto sinne, and that our old man should be crucified, and the bodie of sinne abolished. And forsomuch as yoong children be baptised, euen therby we haue a testimonie, that sinne is in them: for otherwise, the nature of baptisme, as it is there described by Paule, should not consist. Also he foloweth the same reason in the epistle to the Colossians, where he saith, that; 3We be circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinfull bodie of the flesh, being buried togither with Christ in baptisme. He compareth baptisme with circumcision, and faith, that those which are baptised, haue put off the bodie of sinne. Neither is it to be doubted of, but that those which be baptised, are baptised into the remission of sinnes. And assuredlie, 4the circumcision, which in the old lawe was giuen vnto children, was correspondent vnto our baptisme. And as touching circumcision, it is writen; The soule, whose flesh of the foreskinne shall not be circumcised the eight daie, shall die the death. Wherefore, séeing children haue néed of the sacrament of regeneration, it followeth necessarilie, 5that they be borne vnder the power of sinne. Paule vnto the Ephesians the 2. chapter saith; that We are by nature the children of wrath. But our nature could not be hatefull vnto God, vnlesse it were defiled with ⟨p. 215⟩sinne. And in the same place, Paule with most weightie words describeth the féercenes of this wrath; 6how that We walke according to the prince of this world, which is of strength in our harts, by reason of our disobedience, and therefore wee doo the will of the flesh, and of our mind. Augustine also citeth a place out of the first epistle to the Corinthians, 7that Christ died for all men: wherefore it followeth, that all men were dead, and had néed of his death. But it is a wicked thing, to exclude children out of the number of them, for whom Christ died. But if you shall demand what kind of persons they were, for whom Christ suffered; this did the apostle sufficientlie declare, in the epistle to the Romans,
- 1Rom. 6, 2.
- 2Ibidem. 3.
- 3Col. 2, 11.
- 4Gen. 17, 14.
- 5Ephes. 2, 3.
- 6Ibidem. 2.
- 71. Cor. 15, verse. 22.
- 8Rom. 5, 6, and 8.
